Hinterland Hack brings new ideas for the AI Marketplace

Seven companies, over 60 participants, 48 hours of hacking and 5,000 euros for the winning team – that’s the Hinterland Hack 2021 in a nutshell. At the Founders Foundation event, a team from the AI Marketplace was on site as challenge owners and was presented with innovative solution ideas that are now being further developed.

You may ask: What is a hackathon anyway? This word creation from “hack” and “marathon” describes an event during which industry challenges are solved collaboratively and competitively. And that’s exactly what over 60 dedicated, creative and ambitious hackers did during the Hinterland Hack from 18 to 19 September.

AI challenge for the AI Marketplace

The task was to solve seven real challenges from companies in the region. One of the challenge givers was the AI Marketplace. The task: The hackers were to develop a virtual assistant (for example, a chatbot) that supports users of the platform in their search for suitable apps, components and services on the AI marketplace. This should improve the functionality of the platform and the user experience.

Great ideas were generated in just 48 hours. Ruslan Bernijazov, Technical Project Manager in the AI Marketplace, was enthusiastic: “The team’s approaches have shown us new ways of providing information to customers that we didn’t have on our radar. Their innovative ideas offer high potential for customer engagement.”

Software-as-a-Service for AI providers

A software-as-a-service solution was convincing: with the help of a 3D visualisation tool, AI solutions and their added values are presented directly in a virtual production environment. The advantages are obvious: AI users can see the benefits of individual AI solutions virtually live and in relation to the application. The search for the right AI solution is simplified and thus shortened for companies. Providers, on the other hand, can present the advantages of their offers clearly and practically, increase their conversion rates and thus save on marketing and sales costs.

The team around Raja Sekhar Thota, Machine Learning Intern at the HRS Group and Master’s student at the FOM University, did not win the hackathon, but he is nevertheless certain: “With our solution, companies can certainly find the needle in the haystack – an AI solution that meets their needs. We are now excited to develop our idea further and also work closely with the AI marketplace in the process.”

In the AI Marketplace, a platform of the same name is being created where providers, users and experts can develop and exchange solutions for AI. The vision is a marketplace that offers intelligent matching as well as a protected space for secure data exchange and data sovereignty. In addition, there will be an app store for AI solutions and a range of comprehensive AI solutions thanks to a modular principle. With formats like the hackathon, the project wants to draw attention to the platform on the one hand, but also receive valuable input for the development of the platform on the other.

If you would like to see direct impressions of the hackathon weekend, feel free to take a look at the Hinterland of Things YouTube channel. All information about the hackathon is also available on the website.

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